Darby Rich

Biography

Darby Rich returned to Aggieland to join Bucky McMillan's inaugural staff as strength & conditioning coach. Rich previously served as the Aggie basketball team's strength and conditioning coach for eight seasons from 2011-19 under then-head coach Billy Kennedy. Rich has 22 years of sports performance coaching experience and 28 overall years of service in collegiate athletics. During his coaching career, he has helped lead 11 teams to the NCAA Tournament and developed 24 NBA players. Most recently, Rich served in a similar role for the University of Texas men's basketball program, helping the Longhorns to a 19-16 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament First Four. Additionally, Rich's coaching history includes collegiate stops at Memphis (2019-21, 2023-24), Texas Tech (2021-23), Sam Houston State (1998-2001, 2009-10), Oklahoma (2004-09) and Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College and an internship at the professional level under the tutelage of legendary strength coach Joe Jurazsek with the Dallas Cowboys (2001-02). During his previous stint at Texas A&M, Rich helped develop six NBA players including Robert Williams, Khris Middleton, Danuel House, Alex Caruso, Tyler Davis and Jalen Jones and nine all-conference individuals. The Aggies tallied a total of 151 victories (18.9 per season) during Rich's eight seasons in College Station, won the 2016 Southeastern Conference regular-season title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 16 in both 2016 and 2018. As an undergraduate,